Window structure



Dec. 6, 1955 w. A. CURTZE WINDOW STRUCTURE Filed June 1, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l m N R MM Q W nit This invention is a window with spring pressed vertical guide channels at one side which exert enough friction to hold the upper and lower sash in any position without sash weights. By exerting a sidewise pressure, the guide channels can be depressed sufliciently to permit removal of the sash.

The guide channels carry leaf springs on the inside which engage the window frame and urge the channels outward into contact with the sash at a pressure determined by an adjustment for the spring tension. At the lower end is a stop fastened to the window frame and cooperating with inturned flanges on the channels to limit the outward movement. The usual stop strip at the top of the window frame limits the outward movement of the channels at the top. Because the springs are supported entirely by the channels, the installation is greatly simplified.

tates Patent O In the accompanying drawing, Fig. l is an elevation of v 4 is a transverse section through a guide channel, Fig. 5

is a longitudinal section through a guide channel, Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of a guide channel, Fig. 7 is a detail showing the support for the spring tension adjusting screw which also serves as a support for the spring, Fig. 8 is a transverse section through a modification of the guide channel, Fig. 9 is a top view of the leaf spring used in Fig. 8, and Fig. 10 is an end view of the Fig. 8 spring.

In the usual window frame there are spaced vertical jambs 1 connected at the top by a header 2 and at the bottom by a sill 3. In addition to these structural ele ments there is an interior and exterior trim which is not necessary to illustrate for the purposes of the present invention.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, on one of the jambs 1 is a pair of floating guide channels 4 arranged side by side for a double hung window. Each of the guide channels has a web 5 the outer surface of which is formed to make a tongue and groove connection with the vertical edge of a sash 6. Each of the guide channels has side flanges 7 which extend inwardly toward the jamb and terminate in inwardly extending flanges 8. At the lower end of the guide channels is a unitary stop 9 fixed to the jamb 1 by drive screws it). The stop has a pair of channels 11 and 12 each with side flanges 13 extending out from the side stile 1 between the flanges "7 of the opposed guide channel t and terminating in out turned flanges 14 which co-operate with the inturned flanges .8 of the guide channel to limit outward movement of the lower ends of the guide channel away from the jamb 1. There is suflicient clearance between the out turned flanges 14 and the web 5 of the guide channels to permit movement of the guide channels toward the jamb suflicient to clear the fixed guide channels (not shown) on the opposite jamb and thereby allow removal of the windows. At the top of the guide channels the outward movement away from the side 2,725,603 Patented Dec. 6, 1955 stile is limited by the usual stop strip 15 fixed to the underside of the header 2.

In mounting the floating channels on the jamb 1, the stop 9 is first fixed to the lower end of the jamb by the drive screws 10. The lower ends of the guide channels 4 are then inserted into the stop so that the inturned flanges 8 on the guide channels are behind the out turned flanges 14 on the stops. The guide channels 4 are then swung up against the jamb and the stop strip 15 fixed to the underside of the header.

At suitable points along the guide channels 4 are carried leaf springs 16 which extend longitudinally of the guide channels. The ends 17 of the springs bear against the outer surface of the jamb 1. The center of the leaf spring is non-rotatably carried in a holder comprising a folded strip 18 extending cross-wise of the guide channels as shown in Fig. 6 and having a square end 19 which cooperates with the adjacent flange of the guide channels to prevent rotation on the holder. The folded end 20 of the holder is threaded at 21 to receive an adjusting screw 22. The spring 16 which is received between the fold of the holder has a clearance opening 23 for the screw. A clearance opening 24 is likewise provided in the upper part of the holder. When the screw is inserted in the holder and the screw 22 is threaded into the opening 21, the spring is non-rotatably anchored in the holder and the squared end 1% of the holder prevents rotation of the holder relative to the guide channel. As shown in Fig. 7, the head 25 of the screw is received in a chamfered opening 26 in the outer surface of the channel and on the inner surface of the channel there is a bell washer 27 held in place by an upset portion 23 thereby anchoring the screw 22 in the channel but permitting it to rotate freely. Turning of the screw 22 moves the spring holder 18 toward and away from the jamb 1 thereby increasing or decreasing the outward pressure exerted by the springs. This permits adjustment of the guide channels to exert sutficient pressure on the window sash to hold it in adjusted position without the need of balance weights. At the same time, the adjustment keeps the friction to a low enough value so that the sash can be easily raised and lowered. Since the springs 16 as well as the tension adjusting means for the spring are completely carried on the guide channels, the installation is greatly simplified.

In Figs. 8, 9, and 10 is shown another arrangement for supporting the springs and the tension adjusting means therefor on the floating guide channels. This construction uses the same guide channel 4 as in the previously described construction. On the underside of the web 5 of the guide channel at suitably spaced intervals are fixed brackets 29 which extend crosswise of the channel and are anchored therein, for example, by inwardly struck portions 36 in the side flanges 7 of the guide channel. At the center the brackets 29 are threaded to receive adjusting screws 31 having heads 32 which are accessible for adjustment through openings 33 in the guide channels of smaller diameter than the heads 32 of the screws. The maximum adjustment is, accordingly, determined by the space between the brackets and the inner side of the web of the guide channel and by suitably shaping the bracket can be made in a desired value. The leaf springs 16:: which, like the springs 16 in the previously described construction, extend longitudinally of the guide channel are fixed, for example, by spot welds 34 to a carrier 35 which has a square end 1% co-operating with the inner surface of the side flange 7 to prevent rotation of the spring. The adjusting screw 31 has a reduced portion 36 which extends through a clearance opening 37 in the spring and its carrier and is headed over at 38 to secure the spring to the adjusting screw and permit rotation of the adjusting screw relative to the spring. In the manufacture, the brackets 29 with the adjusting screw 31 and the spring and carrier may be pre-assembled and then inserted into the channel 4 and secured in place by the indentations 30. Since the springs together with the spring tension adjusting means are all carried by the guide channel 4-, the installation in a window frame is carried out in the same manner as in the first described construction.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a window frame having jambs connected at the top by a header and at the bottom by a sill, a floating metal guide channel on one of the jambs having a web spaced from the jamb and having its outer suma "crnied to make a tongue and groove joint with a sash guiding the opening and closing movement, the channel having side flanges extending from the web toward said one jamb and terminating in inturned flanges, a stop fixed to the frame between the inturned flanges and the inner surface of the web at the lower end of the channel limiting the movement of the lower end of the channel away from the jam'o, a stop fixed to the header and engaging the outer surface of the web to limit movement of the upper end of the channel away from the jamb, a flat strip spring on the inner side of the web extending lengthwise of the channel and having its ends bearing on the jamb and urging the channel away from the jamb, a spring holder between the flanges of the channel holding the center of the spring and including means cooperating with the inside of the channel to prevent rotation of the spring, and an adjusting screw having its head rotatably but non-slidably anchored to the web of the channel and accessible from the outside thereof and theaded into the holder to move the holder relative to the channel and thereby adjust the spring tension.

2. In a window frame having jambs connected at the top by a header and at the bottom by a sill, a floating metal guide channel on one of the jambs having a web spaced from one of the jambs and having its outer surface formed to make a tongue and groove joint with a sash guiding the opening and closing movement, the channel having side flanges extending from the web toward said one jamb and terminating in inturned flanges, a stop fixed to the frame between the inturned flanges and the inner surface of the web at the lower end of the channel limiting the movement of the lower end of the channel away from the jamb, a stop fixed t0 the header and engaging the outer surface of the web to limit movement of the upper end of the channel away from the jamb, a flat strip spring on the inner side of the web extending lengthwise of the channel and having its ends bearing on the janib and urging the channel away from the jamb, a spring holder for the center of the spring between the flanges of the channel, means inside the channel and cooperating therewith to prevent rotation of the holder, and an adjusting screw rotatably but non-slidably supported by the channel having its head accessible from the outside thereof and its body threaded in and supporting the holder and co-operating with the holder to move the holder relative to the channel and thereby adjust the spring tension.

3. in a window frame having jambs connected at the top by a header and at the bottom by a sill, a floating metal guide channel on one of the jambs having a web spaced from said one jarnb and having its outer surface formed to make a tongue and groove joint with a sash guiding the opening and closing movement, the channel having side flanges extending from the web toward said jamb, stop means fixed to the frame for limiting the outward movement of the channel away from the jamb, a flat strip spring on the inner side of the web extending lengthwise of the channel and having its ends bearing on the side jamh and urging the channel away from the jamb, a spring holder between the flanges of the channel holding the center of the spring and including means cooperating with the inside of the channel to prevent rotation of the spring, and an adjusting screw having its head rotatably but nonslidably anchored to the web of the channel and accessible from the outside thereof and threaded into the holder to move the holder relative to the channel and thereby adjust the spring tension.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

